Xu Zhi stood up and said, "You two come here quickly, don't run around, can't you hear how noisy it is outside?"
Xu Bai said with a grin, "Sister, don't worry. These are nothing to us, just small fry. Don't be afraid. A Yuan and I have been following Uncle for years, and we've done it for nothing. Although we're young and not very skilled, we have plenty of equipment. Sister, let me tell you, these people can't beat us with those new weapons we've been developing lately."
Xu Zhi sighed inwardly, but didn't say anything. She had raised Xu Bai since he was a child, and she knew her younger brother's personality. He was a talkative and chatty person, and nothing was a big deal to him. But now, it really was a matter of life and death, and Xu Zhi really didn't dare to think of things in a positive light.
Seeing Xu Zhi remain silent, Xu Bai groped his way to the chair below her and sat down. Chen Yuyuan had already taken her seat on the chair opposite him. Once seated, Xu Bai sighed and said, "Uncle, can't we light a candle? It's really uncomfortable groping around in the dark like this."
Wu Muyue laughed and said, "We'll light the candles in a little while. If we light them now, we might become the target of those people. Although your weapon is novel, you must not underestimate your opponent. There is no shortage of smart people in this world."
Xu Bai said with a grin, "Uncle, I know, I know. Don't look at others, just look at my eldest brother. Do you think I still consider myself a brilliant person?"
Thinking of Xu Di, Wu Muyue patiently said to Xu Bai, "People like your older brother are not common. Such people only appear once every few decades or even a hundred years. We are all ordinary people. If we work hard, we can always achieve our goals. Abai, don't you agree?"
Xu Bai naturally knew Xu Di. His experiences in his previous life had given him an extraordinary foundation. Most importantly, Xu Bai believed that Xu Di was an extremely self-disciplined person. Just looking at the notes Xu Di took when preparing for the imperial examination, Xu Bai was filled with admiration. If someone more talented than himself was working this hard, why should someone as mediocre as himself expect to just lie around like a salted fish? Xu Bai felt that if he wanted to turn his life around, he had to work hard. As long as he didn't die from overwork, he should keep working. Otherwise, he wouldn't even be able to turn his life around; he'd probably just burnt to death.
Xu Bai nodded, then, realizing that Wu Muyue couldn't see his movements in the dark, said, "Uncle is right. My elder brother is no ordinary person. Sigh, I don't know if having such an elder brother is a good thing or a bad thing."
Xu Zhi asked curiously, "Big brother is capable and takes good care of us siblings, how could he not be good?"
Xu Bai said listlessly, "My dear sister, you are a girl, so you don't have to take the imperial examinations or become an official. You naturally don't know the pressure I, as your younger brother, face. With such a brilliant and outstanding older brother as a benchmark, you can imagine how I would be laughed at if I were to be mediocre. Let's not even talk about talent. Sister, you know that my talent is far inferior to my older brother's. But others don't think so. They think that since I have such an excellent older brother, I, his younger brother, should at least be close to him, if not surpass him. But I am of average talent and don't have my older brother's talent. Even if I try hard, I can't reach his level. People will think that I, as his younger brother, am not working hard enough. Some people might even think that I have wasted the same genes as my older brother."
Xu Zhi didn't understand what genes meant at the moment, but she immediately realized that Xu Bai, as the younger brother who was the older brother, was also under a lot of pressure. She couldn't help but reach out and take Xu Bai's hand, saying, "Good brother, I won't force you to learn this or that anymore."
Xu Bai laughed and said, "No, sister, you still have to push me when necessary. I know my own temper. Don't be fooled by how my brother likes to tease me. He's doing it all for my own good. I'm the kind of person who just listens to nice things and then lets it go. But if you say something harsh and push me, I might just feel ashamed and become more courageous."
Wu Muyue laughed heartily and said, "Abo, I never expected you to analyze yourself so clearly."
Xu Bai sighed and said, "Uncle, one must know one's own limitations. I can't and don't need to care about what others do, but I must know my own worth. The capital is a good place, but it's the capital of our Great Liang. There are so many high-ranking officials and nobles there. If you don't know your place, you might not even know how you died."
After a pause, Xu Bai continued, "The situation in the capital is very volatile right now, and our family is in the eye of the storm. Although I am young, I cannot be complacent and hold my family back. My elders are loving and dote on me. If I do anything to bring shame to the family, I will end it myself without them having to teach me a lesson."
Xu Zhi patted Xu Bai's arm and said reproachfully, "Pah, pah, pah, children say whatever comes to mind. What nonsense are you talking about? Children shouldn't talk nonsense. Since you know that your elders are loving, you should live well so that they can rest assured. I understand that you are afraid that you will not do well and be looked down upon because you have an excellent older brother. But in my eyes, you have already done very well."
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
